Sunday, July 20, 2014

I run a very old Windows program on my Windows 7 computers called "Argentum backup." On some of my computers but not others, Argentum backup can't find my NAS device until I go into Windows Explorer and click on the NAS device first. Once I click, the big red X goes away, and the NAS device is now available to Argentum Backup.

With some research, I discovered that Windows Home Premium has some reported problems mapping a network drive. In my case, that might not even be the explanation, Rather, it could even be that I have some quick startup setting that is delaying or pausing the utility that maps the network drive during boot. However, I also find that once in a while when I reboot, the X isn't there. Too may factors to consider.

And so, because my main problem is the automated Argentum Backup program finding the network drive, I found a speedy workaround for now. I went back into Argentum backup settings on the computers where it fails, and instead of pointing my backup target to the mapped drive, I point it to the share folder on the network drive. It seems I had already done that on some of my computers but not others, which explains the inconsistency across computers.

Friday, July 11, 2014

What do a shredder and a 3D printer have in common? Maybe less than I hoped, but the project's not over yet.

My library got a 3D printer. Daughter Marcy and I worked with their IT guy, Charles, on the challenging task of taking thirty photos of an object I brought from home, then rendering a 3D image to feed into the printer.

I wanted to replicate something plastic that's actually useful, and that's how I came to select the kid lock override device that goes into my shredder to make it operational.

Marcy turned the object on a chair, while Charles took the pictures.

We got as far as uploading the pics tohttp://www.123dapp.com/catch but the app turned the photos into something quite different from the original object. So there's more to learn.

I left Charles with the kid-lock thingy, and he has the photos of course.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Note that you need to start the soaking process at least an hour and a half before showtime.

Preparation:

Choose a fuel station far from the performance area. Must be clear of fallen leaves, pine straw, brown (winter)
grass, brush or other flammable material. Know that dead leaves still
in trees can also ignite above you. Check your performance area
carefully. Equip your fuel station with a fire blanket and an extinguisher. The extinguisher is only for a bucket fire -- not for a person on fire.

Choose your performance area in the same way as your fuel station.

Fill a glass pickle size jar or a coffee can with a combination of standard tiki torch oil and White Gas (Coleman camping fuel) -- just high enough to cover the wick.

Place one end of the fire baton completely into the oil. Leave it there for 45 minutes.

Shake out the excess fluid and let drip, or spin off the excess fuel into sandwich bags

Place the soaked wick on a large piece of aluminum foil

Fold top half of foil over the soaked end of baton, then fold one side of foil in, the roll foil around to seal the wick.

Turn the baton upside down and repeat the process with the other wick

If you need to travel with it, put it in a big plastic bag, with the foil still on the ends

Shake out any excess fuel and light the ends with a lighter

Put on your show

Have a "Spotter" ready with the wet towel or small wool blanket to wrap around each wick to extinguish the flame. They can either lay the towel on the ground first, or wrap it around the wick at arm level.

Equipment:

Wet towel to put out the wicks

Aluminum foil

Tiki torch oil mixed with White Gas (Coleman camping fuel)

Lighter

Glass jar or aluminum coffee jar

Small wool blanket or moistened 100% cotton, bath-sized, towel

Sandwich bags and twist ties

Wear tight clothing that is 100 percent cotton. Viscose is also a safe fabric. Avoid any synthetic fabric made from petroleum that could melt when exposed to heat. A small amount of spandex is okay.